St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-12
STRAY SUNBEAMS.


There has always been q suspicion in the
minds of a great many people that HENRY
WARD BEECHER was the real author of
''Uncle Toms Cabin There is no founda-
ton for this opinion except that his sister,
Mrs. STOWE never wrote anything else at
all comparable to this production, and Mr..
BEEGHER was known to be capable of any
sort of composition.
"Uncie Toms Cabin was originally pub
lished in 1851 in weekly parts in the New Era,
an anti-Slavery paper in Washington, but it
was not until its appearance in book form in
1897 that it created a sensation. In eight
weeks after the appearance of the first edi-
ton 900 copies were sold in the United
States, and by the end of the year the sale
had reached 100000.
49,
The book had still more phenomenal sale
in England, where the publishers expected a
failure. The first London edition was issued
in May, 1852 and was received with so much
favor that during the month of September
one London book firm gave an order for 10. 900
copies daily during the entire month Before
the close of the year it was estimated that as
many as million copies had been sold in
England alone.
Ex-Gov. WILLIAM SMITH, of Virginia, who
is dying at his home in Fauquier county, in
that state, at the advanced age of 80, was one
of the best known politicians in the country
thirty years ago. Extra Billy as he was
Familiarity called by everybody, was familiar
figure in Washington life for nearly half
century. He was a member of congress for
great many years, and was three times
elected governor of his state.
~
While a member of congress, ssExtra
BILLY SMITH challenged criticism by calling
for egg-nog every day and having it brought
to his desk. He was several times repri-
manded by the speaker, and often rebuked
by his fellow members for an open violation
of the rules Of congress- which prohibited
liquors from being drank on the floor of the
house. He always defended himself by say
ing that drinking egg-nog was the inherent
right of Virgnian, and there was not power
enough in the federal government to squelch
this particular feature of states rights.
80
In early life Gov. SMITH was a mail con-
tractor with the United States government.
and had charge of a line of stage coaches for
mail transportation from Washington as far
south as Miledgeville. His nickname of "Ex-
ira Billy grew out of his demands for extra
compensation.
~
During the war, although quite an old man.
Gov. SMITH accepted the colonelcy of a Vtr-
ginia infantry regiment in the Confederate
service. He had no previous military train
ing, and was too old to learn military phrases
and tactics. The only technical command
that he ever mastered was, ''Fall in, Forty
ninth" At the first battle of Bull Run he
wanted to order bayonet charge, but didn't
know how to give the command. Riding I'D
to the front of his regiment he called out in
stentoriaD tones: 'Boys, put your stickers
on your guns and give 'em hell. -
-
He was elected governor of his state for
the third time in 1858 because of his reputa
ton as fighting soldier. His public life
closed with the fall of Richmend in 1885,. when
ne abdicated in favor of military governor.
He has lived in retirement on his farm SINCE
the war, refusing to take an active part in
political life, but always advised the people
OF his state to accept the results of the war in